The evening world. Newspaper, June 23, 1914, Page 19

CAPT. 1014, by Freak A, Mamsey Oo.) Miters 2tms folded and brow wrinkled, turn- CHAPTER IV. Honore Forsworn. and refuse his more or less Bentino eyed the captain quite steadily now with the desperation of plain ter- ror. And the temporary President of Ganta Chansa smiled gently. “You won't feel that way when you've thought it over for a few min- utes, Bentino,” he sald. “You're Min- ister of State fast enough, because T've just appointed you. Just use your common sense and get used to the idea, and then"—— “Were I to serve ag Minister of State the whole world would point the finger of scorn at my beloved country, her Cabinet picked from the rabble of the streets, No, senor! Nations would laugh at Santa Chanza and my poor heart would break. I thank you, but—I decline.” “Bentino, you're scared!” Capt. Vel- vet stated. “And I wouldn't permit @ white-livered coward to serve on that Cabinet.” “You are right “and what's more’—— The good captain's tones were rising. Now they ceased altogether to ex- jst, for they were drowned in a crash of glass such as set the captain bounding out of brought a shriek from Bentino. A long ten seconds it echoed and re-echoed; bits of glass tink! some thing somewhere moved, and how- el f glass rattled faintly to the floor pay cad thelr differences were buried, for the captain looked at his erie as quite the usual way and uickly: Sirwhere was it?” Bentino crossed “In the office of the Mi! @ good man, the Senor “Some one’s running along the side corridor,” stated the captain as he hurried into the main one and looked about—and then recoiled, gaping, be- fore the shock of the long, thin form that had burtled against him. ‘A twist, and he had it by the neck; another, and it bad been thrown into the Red Room; and there the cap- tain drew bis right band revolver, and— ° “Well, Norita,” he said mildly, ae the figure sat up dase: in the mid- dle of the floor, “I never meant to throw the Minister of Finance around like that.” “Let us say no more of it, my dear Velvet, id ta. “My errand whee this room. Where is Pacato?” “Out, “J will leave it in writing,” said the visitor as he dusted an ou! ir two of pulverized glass from bis collar. “After all, it is better eo.” “Leave what?” “My resignation, senor. I may ait at bis desk?” “You may not!” said the captain. ‘I'm president of this republic now; “Then that is eves better, for 1 may resign more quickly!” the minister cried. “The keys of our national treasury—they are here. I kiss your band, senor! Adios!" He bowed low, with a ceremonious sweep, and backed straight out of the Red Room, and for a considerable time the captain stared at the open Goo! ‘Bentino,” said Capt. Velvet, “the eabinet of Santa Chanza rowed down to one man, where there should be eigh ‘The chief of secret police bowed. “But that one, senor—Tardez, the Mon. Santa Chanza may ell be proud of her Minister of Wai Bentino slowly drew from his pock- et a newspaper and laid it before the president pro tem; and reeking with half-dried ink though it might be, It wan, nevertheless, painfully prompt with facts, for across the whole front page flared a headline of: WILD FLIGHT OF PANIC-STRICK PRESIDEN | i“ ZATO! Velvet tapped Bentino'y, shoulder, “You come with me. We'll go ap- point Tardez minister of state, instead ‘of war, and build a new cabinet around him In just about fifteen min- He may be utes! And walk easy, nervous, Within the War Department had echoed, in succession, a stifled shriek, a dull thud, a strange scrambling, & long, indefinable squeak, and a shar} crash; and Capt. Velvet advances rather swiftly and tore open the door, ‘A moment pe looked about vaguely, for the place seenied to be deserted; then: “He is gone, senor!’ Bentino sub- mitted. ‘Yet see his chair, sticking + there in the window!” Capt. Velvet leane! forward, “Bentino.” he said with grave final- Ity, “I've got to have that cabinet on the Job before night, Where am I ge- ing to get them?” The chief of secret police sighed heavily. With true patriotism dead tn our his chair again and bi The Evening Worid Daily Magazine, Tuesday, June 23, LOITS afflicted land, I do not know, senor!” hho said. Capt. Velvet was not listening. Over by the window he stood with ing over what appeared to be the ba thr of his existence. jaw set unpleasantly and the wrinkles deepened; and t tl President pro tem. led Bentino sta: by a sudden happy little exclamation his breath. under More, he leaned upon the sill of the open window and peered outward, and the corners of his mouth twitched back in a glad, amazed smile, and be erie “Well, by the almighty jumping ger! Come here, Bentino! me ‘© quick!" CHAPTER V. The Moving Finger Writes. PERATING on its regular e@ohedule some distance be- neath the little naval court of inquiry, the Atlantic Ocean elevated Robert Pol- lard for some few seconds, #o that he looked down on the broad and im- posing officer. “And, alao, since we're acquainted,” Mr. Pollard laughed suddenly and very charmingly, “you'll be able to tell your misguided fellows how en- tirely rédiculous they've made them- ecives.” “I — doubdtiess — possibly — pres- ently”—— stammered the bead of the And he stumbled areund the side of the table, half blindly, it seemed, and lunged frantically toward the oe beckoning to Mr. Pollard as he ‘wen! Outside, the broad officer, countenance had passed to royal pur- ple under the tncandescents, ground his teeth and bissed between them: “What are you doing here?” Robert Pollard smiled brilliantly, “Nothing, except asking protection and receiving accusations.” ‘The big man snorted. “Your friends scem pretty well identified. Well? “Well—you yourself are going to vindicate them, of course,” Pollard said, blandly. The large man stared angrily at im. ‘m not at all sure of that, I"—— ‘Well, I am!" his guest stated. “And I wish you wouldn't puff out our chest in quite that way at me. '@ met one evening at a little poker club away up io nice section of Brooklyn, didn't we? You had about eight hundred dollars you wanted to jose, and 1 had a new system that looked good for about eight hundred dollars an evening—and it was"—— “Hush!” ‘And after we'd fixed up the busl- ness details and talked about things in general until about 8 o'clock In the morning, I was decent enough to hire a cab and take you back to your little old New York hotel"”— Mr. Pollard paused to show all his teeth in a smile before whispered “—in condition of alcoholic #pim- reminiscently and ncouraging way in man was gnawing which shee mustache. min and on the way over the bridge, if you remem/ser, you let down the bars and told me the wh of your life!" pursued, “You told me you and @ certaln"—— “Stop!” “Well, if you don’t like that one, try thie—do you remember telling me that you belonged in, Washington wu night, on one of the most im- rtant jobs of your naval career? Bo you remember telling me that if it ever leaked out that you were anywhere but in Washington that night you'd be # busted naval offi- cer and”. ‘The heavy hand landed, shaking, upon bis arm this time. “I remember! Now be quiet!” its owner breathed. “Put in somewhere so that we can t @ train back to Relampago. e've changed our minds and we want to stay there,” sald Mr. Pollard with sublime calm. “I don’t know what wind devi! ani I suspected that you were one of the Americans we were protecting all three of you would have gone back to rot in a native jail, but—remain where you are. D'yo hear? Don't leave this spot. Your—friends will join you presently. When you hear the en- gines stop be ready to leave. “An? “And when you see me pass follow at a distance, without speaking. In fact, if one of you opena his mouth al 1 I'll jatt you! When I stop beside davits, a little farther aft, you'll mark the spot and find the boat lowered. Slide into it and push off quickly. “There can't be more than five miles of water between here and shore, and the railroad isn’t a quarter of a mile from the coast line, And I hope you drown before you ever touch jand!" concluded the large man, with a ring of true sincerity In his voice. Two hours later the three New Yorkers beached thelr boat on a sandy beach near the railroad that Jed to the capital. Their plans were completed. In Santa Chanza trains run for the convenience of all concerned, Robert Pollard, ignoring the mut- tered talk of his alds In the seat he- hind, dreamed his way happily inte Santa Chanza's capital, “Do we have to see him right away, Robby?” the Snake asked, “Well, did we come all the way e to keep away from him?” ke smiled nervously. but when IT think of what he "No may do to W# when he seer us again wouldn't it be better to send him a polite little note first and"— “It would not, and he'll do nothing at all, except welcome us,” thelr chief d ftatly. “We were all wrong tn le story Us r when we did, anyway—h good, ple, honest old soul, straight Qs @ atring. I'll attend to the ex- planations, and you two come in on the chorus when you're needed. “And I'll tell you what happened when we left this restaurant to pull Salvato down from the bandstand. ‘We didn't run to the waterfront and we didn't swim to any battleship; in fact, we didn't know there was a ‘United States battleship here, and we “On the contrary, we started out to do exactly as he ordered. We knocked out his two guards downstairs, be- cause we thought they were spies. e were no more than on the street when six men surrounded us, dragged us into a doorway, bound, gagged and blindfolded us and then, so far as we could guess, took us through the house, hoisted us into a wagon and drove off at a gallop. We galloped two hours,” Mr. Pollard drew fresh inspiration from his cigar and watched the smoke, “I think we rode about two hourt Then we landed at a little house away beyond the city, and we've been kept prisoners ever since. We found Bek of an old knife-blade stickin, tween boards in the floor, an we've been three days sawing a hole pels ad the side wall. “This morning we escaped and hustled right back to our good old friend, apologetic, humble, ready to do whatever he says.” ‘They were strolling toward the pal- co as he talked. ‘Say, is that little guy coming to Bi asked nervously, “The one hopping across the lawn, Robby. He shot out of that main en trance a minute ago as if somebody'd Kicked hi nd—will you pipe the bappy smile?” muttered Mr. Ryan. Robert Pollard turned with careful lack of interest; yet he quickened with curiosity as the small brown man halted before them, removed his hat with a sweep and bowed low, from the waist. 3 be said in halting English. “The most esteem Capitan Velvet is perceive you from the win- dow and send to speak the very welcome greeting! Swhat?™ ‘He has seen with great joy that you consent to honor him with visit, excellency!” he jerked out. “He ask respectful that you come instant to him, that he may kiss the feet of the excellencies. It is in this direction!” Another astonishing tnetant the eyes darted in every direction; he wheeled then and started atraight for the palacio—and Mr. Pollard’s amaze- ment appeared in his own eye. “Well, there's a strong smell of fatted calf, lone brown, around here!" he muttered. ‘Come along.” he Snake had turned rather pale. “Robby,” he said, "I can't catch that smell, It doesn't seem like him, after the way we left him"—— ‘We didn't leave him, We were kid- napped!" Pollard snapped. “Come!” He slid an arm through a far lesa eager one on either side of him and followed the little man briskly—across the lawn to the wide walk, up it to the ateps of the palacio, and up them again to the vestibule. A moment he paused to look over the garish entrance, decorated in three distinctly different spasms; and then, down the corridor, the little brown man had thrown open a door and was bowing profoundly. Beyond the door, in a room that sent forth red radiations, a chair creaked, and they caught the muffled sound of a heavy and very famillar footfall. E happiness have at last set- tled down to stay, chill sus- picton will sometimes come that all {s not well. \ For an instant some such unpleas- ant aensation flickered through Mr, CHAPTER VI. Elevation. VEN in our giaddest mo- ments, when every indica- tion shows that peace and THE VELVET’S REVOLT Pollard, He seemed to remember Captain Velvet as they had last seen him, a foot-long revolver in either them to die on the spot or in the Plaza Libertad, as hand, invitin, they cl Captain Velvet himself strode down hands outstretched in ty that they turned weak with pure rellef. “Boys, I'm giad to eee you! Robby, uopn them, welcome so hi = shake hands!” “Well—captain”— chief could stammer. “And Jimmy here, and Bill, too!" the acting president added, joyfully, ir limp bands. “Come as he wrung th right this way “Captain, I think we all feel nd it's of son,” more time vhat Innocent amazement. “Well, Bill, I promised you thre pretty good jobs in this republe, didn't 1?” The Brute nodded. “When I make a promise I keep "the simple soul © saved you boys in the whole it. no matter what said virtuously. " the three best jobs darned country!" He Pollar anked rather keenly. “Only an hour or two.” “Know Spanish?” quickly. “T know about ten word: was all 1 don't know what you can have thought of ys. I feel—well, “that well enough to know that we'd have done our duty if we'd had the chance, But when we got to the street from that restaurant there was a gang walting for us. They surrounded us no importance now, aid the President pro ater on, when we have a lot we'll talk it all over. now, are you boys ready for busi- sort of business?" iked, ‘The captain looked at him in mild, need affectionately at Mr. fascinated smile. “You been around town long?” he 0. “Either of you?” asked the captain Kh: United States and it begins now.” There was a table behind Mr, Pol- ard, He leaned against it rather weakly and smiled as he sought for & properly gay answer to the cap- tain’s pleasantry; but the, latter hud turned even now to Mr. Ryan. “Son, L appoint you Minister of of this here republic e?" gurgied Mr. Ryan, ou, Bil,” beamed Capt. Velvet. “The regular army's all sworn alle- giance to Mike Pacato. You've Kot ten thousand of the finest, happiest, flercest fighting men in the world under you. The salury's the same— fifty thousand—ans 1 hope you'll like ‘wor! ‘Well—captain!” stammered Mr. n, FYCiptain Velvet rubbed hia hands briskly and turned his effulgent smile upon the Snake, “You see, I did my level beat to save jobs that would just suit you fellers, whether it made hard feelings among the regular office-seekers or not, Robby's pretty slick and a good thinker; he'll make a great Minister of State. Bill's a big, strong chap that the whole army'll cheer every 6 they see him, input 4 for you, Jimmy, you're the sharp, bright little cuss of the lot Like to handle bunches of real money?” “Yes,” whispered the Snake as from a beautiful dream. nt James,” aaid Capt. Velvet, “here- by and without further notico of any kind, I make you Minister of Finance, with full charge of the country’s wealth, and the same salary. There's the keys of the national treasury, and you'll find the treasury Itself reht next door in tne little granite build- ing.” “These?” breathed the Snake as he jingled the ring #o lately discarded by Senor Norita. “Th re the keys,” chuckled the Captain, “Tho big one's for the main door and the little ones belong to the vaults. She's locked up just now.” He turned and included them all in A magnificent gesture of bie out- thrown arms. “There, by ginger! Did I keep my word?" ‘The astounding truth broke upon Robert Pollard suddenly; it was actual fact! “Captain,” he said throatily, “I— don't know how to thank you!" “This here's Bentino, chief of our, secret police, boys, He'll show you your offices—and I guess the ber thing you can do, Robby, is to cal a Cabinet meeting right off and talk over how you're going to govern ‘Santa Changza, I'll see that it's an- nounced in all the papers; and I don't know three fellows I'd rather eee talked about as a Cabinet just now," concluded the benevolent Pres- ident pro tem, and closed the door, Some few seconds they stood there, tunned, At the main entrance halt a dozen dark-brown faces peered in curiously, examined them, and, at a sign from Bentino, popped out of sight again; and across the tiled corridor the chief of secret police was opening doors an he said briskly: “The office of the Minister of State —it is here, excellency. And here th Department of W: nor?" “That's mine, bo . Ryan man- aged to say. “That's all min “And of the Minister of Finance this is the headquarters,” the chief pur- sued; “while here we find the com- modious official meeting room of the honored Cabinet as a body. The ex- cellencies will consent to enter?" He waved toward the last named apartment and stood aside, smiling brilliant #atisfaction aw they looked about. Aaa Cabinet room doubtless It w: all that could have been desired. A long table stood in the centre, with chairs down either side; there were windows along one wall and a long chandelier in the middle, Yet it struck the rapidly calming Minister of State that somothing more than dumb stares might be expected of him, and he turned abruptly to Bentino with: “That's all for the present. We're going to—er—hold a meeting now.” The head of the secret police bowed low and disappeared behind the clos- ily, Yoo— their ‘ou know us Just Ryan Mr. ing door. Pollard began Ryan confessed, “That's all “So the best thing we can do ‘Phen you haven't had a chance is to open this meeting officially to look through the papers or hear decide what the Cabinet's going to do people—well, {t doesn't matter,” to Santa Chanza!” heamed the good captain, catching "You mean for a clean-up?" the himself, with a strange flitting smile. Minister of War inquired, “The Spanish part won't make any ‘That's what we're hero fe difference. I'll see that you all "Would it be bad to stick to the the clerks and interpreters you need. jobs and pull in the salary for a What we want down here is the while? asked the Snake earnestly, brains, and you boys have that—and “Fifty thousand a year's a thousand don't. look #0 humble, Robby," he a week, or almost. We never made added, with extreme kindness, that a#'a steady thing.” “Young fellera, this country’s call- “and we'll never make it as @ ing for you! you ready? steady thing in a country where one Pollard clears nity, kindness.” “Spoken lke a man!" Captain Vel- “Robby, I'm Preat- dent of this republic for a few L appoint you minister of state “Appoint me—what ?” vet said heartily. “Minister of Atate tary of State back home. ary's fifty thousand dollars a year, When you f difficult and cost! matter, 1 his throat. tain,” he said, with gentle dig- e are ready to werve the coun- pl try to the best of our humble capac- {t, ity, or to do anything else that will show our high appreciation of your Are You Going Away for the Summer? © out of town for the summer you may find it ts ly to provide yourself with the right sort of reading Why send to the city for novels at $1.25 or $1.50 each or buy them at a fancy price In some country store? You can supply yourself with the best, most delightful summer reading for six cents a week. By subscribing to The Evening World for the summer months you wa secure a complete novel each week. Not some old book a country dealer has not been able to sell, nt the finest up-to-date fiction by the foremost living authors. Bear this in mind, not only for yourself but for any of your friends who expect to spend the summer in the country. man can go up and punch the Presi- dent and put another fellow in his —and have the populace fall for the Minister of State sald sagely. ‘The new Minister of War cleared hia throat. “Well, Robby, according to the cap- . we're bosses of this country?” Fine! Let's sell the country to some hick back home!" urged the head of the army. ‘We can make It same as Secre- legal; we can sign all the papers The sal- and"-— “Bill!” snapped the Minister of AN UNUSUAL ROMANCE OF MOTHER LOVE f sense.” thousand men!” “Well?” “This wa: grinned broadly. Get i?” “Go on.” "As quick as they get that through I get some e@lick natives and ‘em out with word that e man who wanta to hold his job soldier under me ha a -doliar bill, Se that’s In the army now'll and we'll have new ones coming in, a ‘om Ww. send “All right, then, id the War Department brilliantly. “The army belongs to me. Bee? Ten YORKERS OF “CAPTAIN VELVET’S cabinet mecting ts for ‘al business, and not blasted non- The Minister of War “L issue an order; T tell ‘em that next month pay will be raised $16 a month for every man that's been in the service one month. bundred an hour!” The minister of war leaned back and sought to look modest. “It might be good for and fifty thousand dollar minister of etate considered The very briefly. “And thon, again, it might not,” he “We may pull that Jater, Rill, just before we make our get- risky now, It OMe One to suspecting new cabinet wasn't right, and we can't afford that.” Hie stopped and looked sharply at ance, “What's the matter with you? Slender hands clutching the edge of decided, away, but art it's the minister of the table, to the other with eyes as dreamy as those that had met his appointment. wondering why we were sitting here trying to dope out har toeet the money!” he stated, “I was only ‘The minister across the table. gleamed too th of finance His dreamy eyes suddenly and bis voice dropped to a whisper, “Weil, haven't we got It now?” he demanded. of the pocket?" patie “I'd forgotten that!" the minister ry “Haven't I got the keya 44 treasury of state muttered Ile turned on his heel and led the way, very quietly, indeed, this time, to the far end of the corridor and cast about quickly, There was a smaller corridor, at an angle, and @ smaller door beyond. He hurried to it and opened it, this time to reveal a covered passage and, at {te end, a solid oaken door in a solid granite wall, The minister of rising. “This ia it, Snake!” he whispered. “Where's the key?” s Rather grudgingly, Mr, Evans rendered it to the chief of the band and watched him thrust it soundleas- ly into the lock. A wrench and a crunch and the door swun creaking; they stepped in an it behind them, creaking again. The Snake ‘peered al . don't want to know you!” ‘The Min- clounly. bout auspl- titer of War bounded to his side an “They must use this treasury « looked down on him. “You've let lot!" he observed, offic: in there! on— The minister of state was not Ma- tening. The switch on the wall had been obliging enough to Nght the whole building at his firat twist, and Mr. Pollard was hurrying down the atone corridor to the big ateel door at the rear, It was an elderly thing, well coat with rust, and dating from the rind days before combination locks came to confuse the earnest criminal work- er; yet the sight of it waa strangely exhilarating to Santa Chanza‘s new cabinet. tled upon A distinctly profeasional calm net- them, ne soundleasly back to the door, here's another,” ate turned, color “Took at the little Look at the dust too, 1914 better, Give me that atuff! There!” He snatched just balf a million dollars’ worth of paper and tucked it carefully Into place again; then, with hand once more quite steady, he closed the door gently and turned the key. “Now straight back for the cabinet room, and if the old scoundrel sees that we were just lookin: ordered the minister 0! sot the example by resuming & really stately tread and leading th way out of Santa Chanza’s queer lit tle treasury building The cabinet room was peaceful as X before. com wit “Cabinet's tn seasion again,” Pol- Mere “guy tard said briefly, “There's not much fall for it, tv d er, 1 dl the whole thing out com William Ry: bis lips. “and here's where wo stand, and here's what we d the minister of state went on briskly, “Velvet trusts us implicitly-—-that's pretty plain. We can come and go as we please with out a soul in the whole republic dar- ing to ask a question, Next we 8 for to trim Capt, Velvet and’ “And now we're going to forget him id take what we found!" the Snake put in with sudden relief. “That's @ good idea, Robby. Trying to trim that'—— “If the department of finance will up that passage.” nifed and opened hundred be good y * snapped the minister of stat i tell you looked from one what we're going t We came q Vel. here to trim do “We know what's in that t and we can get to it tnside of five minutes, day or night.” Pollard said tensely. “That stuff is as good New York at t! the captain h two tucked would be a si y somewhere, and it to go away without {0 my ““tn another twenty-four hours we'll be out of this country with $16,000,000 straight!" ‘And there he stopped, nalled by the strange stare of William Ryal “That's three times the door of that closet 1" stated the Ministe moved! of War as he rose, Ryan gathered his muscles and laid soundloas fingers on the closet door. He tore it open and bounded back. From the closet atepped perhaps the smallest of Santa Chanza‘eemall citizens—not fearfully or feroctously, but quite as a matter of course an with a somewhat pale, nervous emile. He rubbed his thin hands and bowed politely to the Minister of Btate as he observed in fair English: ey I salute you~the master!” open, closed “We don't know you, bo, and we yourself in for this by sneaking in here, and now “Senor,” the diminutive citizen broke in, “I do not eneak. As you approached I stepped in there, for one does not know these days who will shoot and who will smile, For the reat, senors, I remained there, because the business of this meeting Inter- me. greatly. BSenors, I am “I didn’t know there was one!” Mr, Pollard muttered. “Yon, that ts it! You did not know!" the little man sbrilled passionately. ‘So through six administrations I have served as First Assistant Mint ter of State, doing the work of the Minister of State bimself—and not one of them appeared to know that I The Snake, ed for @ moment and th ‘ fniner bolt Into pikees ee ne ine ot yourwiy Te Nee t The minister of war hurried tnto “Senor, before you atands revealed the queer little musty office and, after and cautious glance at the sunlit world beyond, drew down the shade to the bottom of the aaah. minister worked deftly with his keys, came to his sides and walted tenaely ~and with quite an astonishing thud the fifth key threw the tumblers of © ck and the sound echoed 0. rnd of the vault the minister of state glanced up grimly. wif they'd been orm, anyway,” he ‘8 lo a Meanwhile the vault through the pl At the far Those things built for sald. * rhis big the torInk pl look oni the one man tn all Banta Changa who has never touched this graft!" “Hecause they never let you get to it?" the Minister of Finance asked, with deep Interest, “For that reason!" the little man replied bitterly. “I, who with but ‘half of the chance, as you say, could steal the whole republic and ship it out of South America before they knew!" A heavy, disappointed sigh escaped him, but he brightened quickly aad turned to Mr. Pollard, “But [ have listened to you, senor, said, with deep respect. ‘I unde of state They The looked ro ¢ au at She rows of open id that the day of petty thievery (ont apa anaried aianat. {hey looked a gone from our beloved republic, and bath 5 na alt in ® that the masters are with us at 1 ee enaasn rose axain with And the great Americans are just On his knienm before the last compart, men!” Re ended wistfully, | You wil aay! Vataring in. Permit me to ald and:to share, tf only Ward and uttering & strange series Of " ‘Ht looks on the Jevel, and he could KUSpR. r A momont he hunched there, petg- throw this Spanivh language around fod! ‘Then both handy renched tha When we need it.” the Minister of F- and the minister of state drew forth package of yellow bank- flaunting the 6 design of Santa Chanza's paper a mighty notes, new and crisp, orn thousand dollars, thelr dollars down here | eighty cents In N Pollard. "Fitte They're all marked ‘five hundred and every one of w York n million dollars!" And there his volee cracked com- nance submitted sanely, “Anywa: if you turn him down he can go Velvet and” Zarapa fairly whirled upon him, “No, senor!” he cried, “Yourselves, perhaps, 1 might tance-—but not that! “Yes, and If he tsn't on the lev- good for »1"-— the Minister of State began erled Mr. calmly. Again bis first assistant broke tn, this time with a heartbroken little pletely, and the hand he laid upon ory the arm of the minister of fnance Senor!" he protested. “Do T not was dar \dodly shaky. convince? Listen! You would re- Snake! Till!” he squeaked. "We've move the treasures of this Velvet, made the big haul at last! We've got who has cursed our beloved land Atteen million dollars here!” long. Do you know where to fnd — them?” CHAPTER VII. The Neglected Mite. down and gather up those bills on the floor D> and eG pin around them again,” or- dered Pollard presently, “Give me those you're holding now, Snake, pile back yours just aa you »," escaped the Snake T will tell you!” The mite rubbed hin hands excitedly. “And, having kecured them, can you leave #o awift. ly, so certainly, by such unfrequented streets that none will know for this band "This, too, T will arrange’ Zarapa sail feverishly, and drew Mr. Pol- lard nearer, “Again Heten! In the cellar of Velvet's house, stored In a vault of which T have knowledge, are found them." fowels and gold to the amount of He watched the Snake rather three millions of our money. You dazedly returning the bundles of Cth Gontrive to dine with him to- notes to thelr place "Probably." “And hurry up with that loose Do so. T shall give you plans of stuff, HL" he snapped. “lf we can {he house. T shall reach his cook and . Aieeatit vipa as toy make 6 nis food alone Is ket back without Velvet finding out rugged and. heavily. 1 shail, are that we've been here, #0 much the range that his two other servants, Firat Assistant Minister of hii brothers, are called to the bedsl lene dying mother, twenty eine ant. “When they are gone, senor, and he aleepa soundly, go to the cetlar and open his vault. I shall be wait. ing by the east wall with a swift automobile. Here in Bante Chanse all fear Velvet, Beaid 4 do tackle him, as you sa: cae Wie out, waitin And it ts for one does mot suspect me!" he ended bil and peered anxiously from one | the other. “You consent?” Robert Portasd smiled blandly. le can run off easily be oo he began. = = already running, senor!” a assistant informed hem and " to the door. "i fy!” ‘or @ matter of many seco! chief of the trio looked at the deer closed noiselessly behind him, “I believe that 1 feotly square,” hi i The minister of fnance glanc fromthe cards he had tavea 4 Spreading on the table, “I'l tell you what about him in two minutes,” he suid gravel; - 7 looking him up.” he minister of state | patiently. ate oe we Put those fool things away, ng he commanded. “Weil have Hy up the details of this, and then"—— “He's all right!” the Snake nounced imperturbably, as his finger Indicated a jack. “Here he is, with the honest card next to him. And, look here, Robby! Here'a the old combination worked out 4 > turn back to great wealth you beat that? Can you" His voice died out, and 90 # that both of them turned to mild astonishment. Tho Snake, indeed, was acti oddly; bent over the table, Nis agers hail picked | franti the of ono of his carde~and picked and picked the harder until the card wepe _ {- arated into two, 8 An instant he looked at the under pasteboard, and he was on his feet, | a dijatod and chokin, Hl! Look! Dye see what's happened? Two of those carde stuck tight together, and I never! Rotlced 1t tilt this minute!” y ——!" his exasperated chief cried as be strode, toward the table. “They were estyck tight to; and the under card's the right one! the Snake cried wildly. “Tr b | | mis pl as i] means either ‘certain death’ or ‘great disaster’—that card!” And he with two savage bands. 4 One sweep made and they had gathered the entire pack togethers A violent jerk and the Minister of t State had performed the rather strene uous feat of tearing straight thi the whole collection, and he the fragments at the " Finance with @ viciou ar) “That's the last time those carde’lt \ | tell your fortune and shak: oe ¥ one-cent nerve, isn't it, y -¥ imbectle?" \ The Snake was not e is rage. “Robby,” be sald hoarsely, “they never lied yet, did they? When they Jooked like money, there wasn't any- body readier to turn back than me we ere? And now when they aay aware of rd fi inet room and stepped bilthely toward the office of 4 Chanza's President. His spirits high, too, and it was only with am effort that he managed to kaesk woftly on the door, It opened with queer speed, an Bentino, glaring at them for am ime ant, beamed pleasantly at them aad pped aside—and then, after a } interchange of glances with a Velvet, who eat at his desk, stepped outaide. The President pro tem. leaned back comfortably id smiled bis whole souled affection at them as inquired “Cabinet getting on nicely?” Ite Minister of State permitted @ gentle laugh to tremble throt the, big apartment as be saunt ve to the desk. #3 “The Cabinet's working up ap i "hi rt oh 4 long enouge have you ask us out to dinger evening.” “vanishes Capt. Velvet's smile slowly, and « thoughtful cast came over his countenance. ‘You mean out to my house? 'Yos, indeod. ‘Well, we won't eat out there night. There's too much—for us do right here.” He turned and shuffled over apers that fully into his flat, worn old wallet— and Robert Pollard smiled quite as serenely. “They've got some darned Jar, methodical people in the States navy, hey? the Minister ef “They have to be, State murmured pleasantly, “Well, they are! All these are itemized receipts from the com- : mander of the battleship that sailed out of here last night for New York!” ‘The captain laid the wallet care fully in his pocket and became come fdential, “You see, Robby,” he sald, “4 kept an awful quantity of val stuff in my home for yours and ~milllons of dollars’ worth, more'n any man has any business keeping — around the house." aa “Yes?” said the Mintater of Stat, p with lips suddenly grown dry, | , “It just struck me what a place New York ts for money what a fool thing It was to keep that in the house!” chuckled good Captain. So I just mixed It with the mander of that battleship when was ashore day before yesterday, al he's gotng to put it all in a real for me, up in your home town ar Mttle hoxes, two steel trunks, oak chests and them's the (To Be Continued.) ees pr orenre AND OF THE GALLANT BATTLE WAGED BY A MAN AND A GIRL AGAINST THE POWERS OF EVIL THE STAIN | FORREST HAL SE Y SccceccceE 8 The Book on the Stands Will Cost You $1.25 —S== You Get It for 6 Cents =| |, ~~